Licensed 24/7 Bail Bonds in Dallas, TX. Same-Day Release From Lew Sterrett and Every Dallas County Jail.

When someone you love is arrested in Dallas County, every hour they spend in custody feels like a day. A Way Out Bail Bonds is a Texas-licensed bail bond agency operating in Dallas County since 1998. Our lead bondsman is licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance under license #285, writes bonds as an agent for United States Fire Insurance Company, and is an approved Dallas County Bail Bond Board agent in active good standing. We post surety bonds at every Dallas County facility including the Lew Sterrett Justice Center (111 W Commerce Street), the George Allen Government Center Jail (600 Commerce Street), the West Tower, the North Tower, and the satellite municipal facilities across the city. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. A licensed Texas bondsman, not a call-center operator, answers when you call 214-760-9978.

How Bail Works in Dallas County

Bail in Texas is governed by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 17 and, for the bail bond profession specifically, Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1704. In Dallas County, the system operates through the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, the Dallas County magistrate courts, and the Dallas County Bail Bond Board, which licenses every bondsman authorized to post bonds in the county.

The typical Dallas County flow after an arrest looks like this:

Arrest and transport – The arresting agency (Dallas Police Department, a suburban municipal police department, or the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office) books the defendant. Many city arrests pass through a municipal holding facility before transfer to Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
Booking at Lew Sterrett (or initial municipal facility)- Booking includes identification, photographing, fingerprinting, personal property inventory, and assignment of a booking number. Booking typically takes 1 to 6 hours depending on facility volume.
Pretrial Services interview – Dallas County Pretrial Services conducts a brief interview about local ties, employment, family responsibilities, and prior record. The interview informs whether the magistrate will consider a PR bond.
Magistration – The magistrate informs the defendant of the charges, reads constitutional rights, and sets bail. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 17, magistration must happen without unnecessary delay, generally within 48 hours of arrest. Dallas County operates magistrate courts on a 24/7 schedule.
Bond posted – Once bail is set, the family can post the bond directly with the court (cash) or work with a licensed bondsman (surety bond). The bondsman posts the full bond amount on behalf of the defendant in exchange for a percentage fee.
Release – Once the bond is accepted and processed by the jail, the defendant is released, typically within a few hours of bond acceptance (longer during high-volume periods like weekend nights and holidays).

Jails We Service in Dallas County

Dallas County operates a multi-facility detention system, all coordinated through the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Knowing which facility your loved one is held at determines the release path. We post bonds at all of them.

Lew Sterrett Justice Center (Dallas County’s Central Jail)

Address: 111 W Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202. Phone: 214-761-9025 (general information, 24/7). Capacity: over 7,100 inmates. Lew Sterrett is the central detention facility for all of Dallas County. If someone was arrested anywhere in Dallas County by Dallas PD, a suburban city’s police department, or the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, they will typically end up at Lew Sterrett after processing through any initial municipal holding. Magistration, Pretrial Services interviews, and most bond postings happen at this facility.

George Allen Government Center Jail

Address: 600 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202. Phone: 214-653-6092. The George Allen Government Center houses additional detention space and the Dallas County courts complex. Some defendants are held here before transport to Lew Sterrett or directly to court.

West Tower, North Tower, and Decker Women’s Jail

West Tower and North Tower are detention buildings on the same Lew Sterrett complex (111 W Commerce Street). Decker Women’s Jail (899 Stemmons Freeway) handles certain female inmate populations. All are part of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office detention system.

Municipal Jails Inside Dallas County

Defendants arrested by suburban municipal police departments (Irving, Mesquite, Garland, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, and others) are often first held at the city’s municipal holding facility before transfer to Lew Sterrett. If your loved one is held at a city facility that accepts bonds locally, release can sometimes happen before transfer to county. Call us with the specific city of arrest and we will identify the fastest release path.

Types of Bail Bonds We Write in Dallas County

Different cases require different bond instruments. A Way Out Bail Bonds writes every commercially available bond type in Texas. The right one for your case depends on the charge, the bail amount, and the situation.

Surety Bonds

The most common bond type. A licensed bondsman posts the full bail amount on behalf of the defendant using the bondsman’s surety carrier. The family pays a percentage fee to the bondsman. The fee is non-refundable but is dramatically less than the full cash bail. Surety bonds are governed by Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1704 and the Dallas County Bail Bond Board’s adopted fee schedule. A Way Out Bail Bonds writes surety bonds as an agent for United States Fire Insurance Company.

Cash Bonds

The defendant or family posts the full bail amount in cash directly with the court. The cash is held by the court until the case concludes, then returned (less court fees) when the defendant has appeared at every required court date. Cash bonds are typically used when the family has the full amount readily available and prefers not to pay a non-refundable percentage fee.

Attorney Bonds

A licensed attorney representing the defendant posts the bond on the defendant’s behalf, under attorney-bond provisions of Texas law. Attorney bonds depend on the attorney’s standing with the court and are case-by-case.

Federal Bonds

Federal charges in the Northern District of Texas are handled through federal magistrate judges, separately from county bond procedures. A Way Out Bail Bonds writes federal bonds for clients held on federal charges in Dallas. Federal bond procedures and fee structures differ from state bonds; we will walk you through the specifics during the initial call.

Personal Recognizance (PR) Bonds

A PR bond is a release issued by the magistrate on the defendant’s signed promise to appear, without any cash deposit. Eligibility is determined by the magistrate based on the Pretrial Services interview and the charge. PR bonds are common on Class B and Class C misdemeanors where the defendant has strong local ties. They are rare on felony charges.

Bond Fees and Payment in Dallas County

Bail bond fees in Texas are set within the framework of Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1704 and the Dallas County Bail Bond Board’s adopted fee schedule. The exact percentage varies by charge type and bond size. We quote the specific fee for your case during the initial call before any commitment is required, so you can make an informed decision.

Most clients qualify for a payment plan. A payment plan does not delay the defendant’s release: the bond is posted as soon as the initial payment and signed cosigner paperwork are received, and the remaining fee is paid on the agreed schedule. Payment plan terms are case-by-case and depend on the bond size, the cosigner’s situation, and the charge.

Cosigners take on a legal obligation to ensure the defendant appears at every court date. Before you sign as cosigner, we will walk through the obligations in detail, including the potential exposure if the defendant fails to appear. This conversation is required under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1704, and we take it seriously. We will not sign a cosigner who does not fully understand the commitment.

Why Dallas County Families Choose A Way Out Bail Bonds

Texas-licensed bondsmen, not call-center intake operators. A licensed bondsman who can post your bond will answer when you call.
Operating in Dallas County since 1998. Over 28 years of direct experience writing bonds at Lew Sterrett, the George Allen Government Center, and every Dallas County facility.
Texas Bail Bond License #285. Agent for United States Fire Insurance Company. Dallas County Bail Bond Board approved with continuous active standing since 1998.
24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays. We have posted bonds at Lew Sterrett on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s morning. Bail does not have business hours; neither do we.
Payment plans available for qualifying cosigners. We will tell you upfront whether a plan is realistic for your case.
Bilingual service in English and Spanish. Visit our Spanish-language page or call 214-760-9978 for asistencia en español.
Real-name client testimonials, verifiable through our public review profiles.

What Our Clients Say

“I’ve done business with this company for 15 years. They are definitely one of the best. They are fair and fast and fairly priced too. If you can get a bond with them you should do it because they won’t play games with you or your money. They’ll just get your family member out on bond and keep them up to date on their court dates. And that’s what you want from a bond company.”

David Traylor

“Helped me get my friend out real quick. People, pay your bonds because they’re coming if you don’t, and you mess it up for others. Highly recommend this place.”

Karma Garza

“Jeannie and the entire staff were very good to me. They made it simple, easy, and comfortable. Even though it was an uncomfortable situation, obviously.”

Adam Caro

Cities and Areas We Serve in Dallas County

A Way Out Bail Bonds writes bonds across all of Dallas County and the surrounding DFW metroplex. Primary service cities include: Dallas, Irving, Mesquite, Garland, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Rowlett, Carrollton, Richardson, Grand Prairie, and surrounding communities. If your loved one is held in a Dallas County facility, we can post the bond.

For Tarrant County arrests (Arlington, Fort Worth, Mansfield, Grapevine, Bedford, Hurst, Euless), our Arlington office at 817-261-2828 is closer to the relevant facilities. We coordinate freely between offices. Visit our Arlington bail bonds page for full Tarrant County coverage details.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to get someone out of Lew Sterrett Justice Center?

Once a surety bond is posted and accepted by Lew Sterrett, release typically happens within a few hours, depending on the facility’s processing queue. Booking and magistration before bond posting can add several additional hours. Total time from arrest to release for a typical case where the family contacts us promptly after magistration is usually a single business day, though high-volume periods (weekend nights, holiday weekends) can extend the timeline.

What is the Dallas County Bail Bond Board?

The Dallas County Bail Bond Board is the county-level regulatory body that licenses bail bondsmen authorized to post bonds in Dallas County, operating under the framework established by Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1704. Every bondsman writing bonds in Dallas County must be in active good standing with the Board. The Board’s public registry allows anyone to verify a bondsman’s current license status.

Do I have to pay the full bail amount to a Dallas bondsman?

No. You pay only the bondsman’s fee, which is a percentage of the full bail amount set within the framework of Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1704 and the Dallas County Bail Bond Board’s adopted fee schedule. The bondsman posts the full bond on behalf of the defendant. The fee you pay is non-refundable but is dramatically less than the full cash bail.

Can I get a bail bond in Dallas if I have bad credit?

Often yes. Bail bond approval is not a credit-score-based decision. We look at the overall situation including the cosigner’s stability, the defendant’s local ties, the charge, and the bond size. Many Dallas County clients with imperfect credit qualify for a surety bond, sometimes with collateral or an adjusted payment plan.

What is a cosigner’s obligation on a Dallas bail bond?

The cosigner takes on a contractual obligation to ensure the defendant appears at every scheduled court date. If the defendant fails to appear, the cosigner can be held responsible for the full bond amount and may be involved in helping the bondsman locate and surrender the defendant during the statutory recovery window under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 17 and Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1704. Before you sign as cosigner, we will walk through the obligations in detail.

Can I bond someone out of Lew Sterrett at 2 AM?

Yes. Lew Sterrett Justice Center operates 24/7 and accepts surety bond postings around the clock. A Way Out Bail Bonds is staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays. Call 214-760-9978 at any hour and a licensed Texas bondsman will answer.

How do I find out which Dallas County jail my loved one is held at?

Use the Dallas County online jail lookup or call Lew Sterrett at 214-761-9025 with the defendant’s full legal name and date of birth. There can be a lag between booking and appearance in the online system, especially for overnight arrests. If you cannot locate the defendant through the online lookup, call us and we will help you track down the holding facility.

What happens if the defendant misses court after I cosigned the bond?

If the defendant fails to appear at a scheduled court date, the court issues a capias warrant and the bond is at risk of forfeiture. The bondsman has a statutory window under Texas law to locate and surrender the defendant before the bond is forfeited in full. Cosigners are sometimes asked to assist in that recovery. If the defendant is located and surrendered within the window, the bond is typically reinstated. If not, the cosigner is contractually obligated to make the bondsman whole for the full bond amount.

Do you offer bilingual service for Dallas County clients?

Yes. A Way Out Bail Bonds provides full bilingual service in English and Spanish, including the cosigner conversation, paperwork, and court-date reminders. Visit our Spanish-language page. Llame al 214-760-9978 para asistencia en español, las 24 horas del día.

How do I verify your Dallas County bail bond license?

Texas Department of Insurance license #285 is verifiable through the Texas Department of Insurance public license lookup. Dallas County Bail Bond Board active standing is verifiable through the Dallas County Bail Bond Board public registry. Additional information about A Way Out Bail Bonds is available on our About Us page.

If You Have a Loved One in a Dallas County Jail, Call Us Now

Bail bonds in Dallas County are not complicated when you work with a licensed bondsman who knows the system. The 10-minute call tells you the exact bond amount, the exact fee, the exact release timeline, and the exact next step. We have written bonds at Lew Sterrett, the George Allen Government Center, and every municipal facility in Dallas County for over 28 years. We are Texas-licensed and Dallas County Bail Bond Board approved. Call 214-760-9978 at any hour or contact us today. A licensed Texas bondsman will answer.

*We Also Do Bonds by Fax or Email